What is your preferred carry (concealed) method?

In the past, when I have carried, a shoulder rig was the only one I felt comfortable in, really can't stand a gun on my belt-least of all trying to hide it. But I never owned a really small handgun. 5" SA Loaded, G-19, Ruger P-'s, etc., I don't know how you guys do it. I'm getting a 3AT to keep in R. front pocket, maybe a little pocket holster. If I had a centennial or CIA, the coat pocket carry/fire method is appealing.
Horizontal Shoulder holster or in a pocket are all that work for me, CCW or open.
 
I carry IWB in the 3 o'clock position in a Bianchi Pro 100 holster. I usually carry a spare magazine in either my left front pocket or in my left rear pocket next to my wallet.

+1 to all who commented against SOB carry. My back is screwed up enough without adding a smashed vertebrae into the mix.
 
While it does have its disadvantages, I prefer ankle carry for long periods of sittin

Ok, I've never used an ankle holster so help me out here. I'm right handed, do you carry in the inside left leg or outside right leg?
 
Carry gun: 1911 full size (90%) and Bersa Thunder .380 (10%)

Favorite carry method: Galco Jackass (shoulder holster) knock off, under left arm, two mags under right arm.

Second favorite: Strong side IWB, leather open top.

Third favorite: inside my short sleeve shirt, Mexican carry cross draw.

Mostly the Bersa is in a pocket, . . . either jeans front or jacket strong side, and there is a spare mag that goes where it goes.

May God bless,
Dwight
 
Inside the left leg if right handed but just for fun, pretend you are trying to draw from outside the right leg and see if you don't fall on your butt.
Neither is a real fast or comfortable draw but not a bad place for BUG or "New york Reload" when crouched for cover!
 
BTW Biker RN, where did you get a IWB holster for a N-Frame? is that custom?
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Right now I'm carrying the N-Frame OWB in a Matt Del Fatti Holster that he was nice enough to send me until he gets mine made.

I have a Summer Special II on order also from Milt Sparks, and that should be here in about three months. I've carried for over twenty years and have always preferred IWB. I just don't have an IWB for the N-Frame at the moment, so I take more care in "Dressing Around The Gun" than normal,that can be hard to do in the desert southwest. I "loaned" an old leather N-Frame IWB Holster to a "friend in need" since my previous post was typed.

As far as I know, all IWB's for an N-Frame are going to be "custom". I had an order in with Mark Garrity, but cancelled it after eight months of waiting. He had told me "three to four months." I'm patient, but not that patient. The only maker that I know of personally that delivers when they promise is Milt Sparks. Matt Del Fatti doesn't even promise when you will get it, but will give an estimate. The nice thing is, you can look on his website and it will tell you what month and year of holsters he is currently working on. Right now in September 2007 he is working on November 2005 orders.

Biker
 
I have two usual methods and a blue moon method.

Right now, OWB is my preferred mode at 8 o'clock. My usual carry is a Smith and Wesson 637 but will occasionally carry a Glock 22 in the same position with the same model holster; a Galco Fletch. I use this method about 70% of the time.

When I go IWB, I use a Bianchi Professional 100 IWB at the small of my back. This had been my usual carry mode until about 4 months ago and I use it about 30% of the time.

Over the winter, I'll pocket carry the Smith in a Don Hume pocket holster in my jacket pocket if I'm going to be out for a while without taking off my jacket. Easy to get to and I don't have to ask for a time out to remove my jacket so I can actually get to my gun.
 
Matt Del Fatti doesn't even promise when you will get it, but will give an estimate. The nice thing is, you can look on his website and it will tell you what month and year of holsters he is currently working on. Right now in September 2007 he is working on November 2005 orders.

:eek: Ain't that a damned shame! The man is a genius with leather. Everything I've bought from him has been extraordinarily functional, stylish, and perfectly made. I've already got enough holsters; and I'd like to get another custom knife sheath, too; but not if I've got to wait 2 years!

I guess when you're Matt Del Fatti, you just can't go out and hire other people to do what you do.

(So very well!) ;)

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Like Silentarmy said...ankle rig is worn on the inside of the weak side leg. Haven't tried wearing it on the outside of my shooting leg but imagine it would be somewhat more awkward.
 
Lately, either Keltec in the pocket or Taurus PT111 in a fobus compact paddle on the hip. I've got more expensive rigs (wish I hadn't spent all that money) but this is how things evolved.

One thing I've concluded: For Concealed Carry, lighter is better, smaller is better. If you can't conceal it, you won't carry it. ;)
 
no professional gunman I know - not one - carries SOB. (I won't get into, 'Why'.)

Ok, I'm sorry but I have to ask the stupid question...Why not carry SOB? I'm not being a smart ass, but I've found it very comfortable for my frame.

I'm most comfortable (and I seem to have this nice space where) with the Glock 19 back there. I carry it IWB pointed straight down, not horizontal (maybe a slight canter). I also pull the holster and the grip a little to the 5:30 position so it's amost above the top inside of my right hip pocket.

On my non-working days I'll carry it there all day, I can draw nicely from that position, (probably 3 times slower then OWB strong side) however at least I'm armed.

I tried IWB at 3:00 position the other night, went out to eat and the little chairs had arms on them and me and the gun didn't fit. So I ended up sitting sideways until I could push the damn thing back far enough. Maybe the problem is what I'm carrying, and it's just too thick.

I'm beginning to like the Kel-Tec in the pocket idea. Do you guys trust these little things?
 
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I'm beginning to like the Kel-Tec in the pocket idea. Do you guys trust these little things?

I had my reservations. But after researching their warranty and customer service, combined with the shear number of people I know that are carrying them, including guys that work at gun shops, I took the plunge.

I bought mine last week, and shot it for the first time on saturday. Put 75 rounds downrange accurately from 10-20ft, point shooting with one hand. Recoil was about equal to a snub revolver shooting 38+p.

This thing is a real gun! I was very impressed to the point of dis-belief! I didn't have one problem. I left the range with a big smile on my face, took it home, gave it a good cleaning, loaded it up, and it's been in my pocket ever since.
 
Ok, I'm sorry but I have to ask the stupid question...Why not carry SOB? I'm not being a smart ass, but I've found it very comfortable for my frame.

:rolleyes: You want me to answer this one, huh! I really don't want to. I'm presently enrolled in a, 'GT recovery program' and have promised myself that I'm no longer going to respond to such statements as: 'Glocks are no more likely to go, kaBoom! than any other pistol.' 'It's a brick unless you carry chambered.' 'There is no God.' and 'Your real safety is between your ears!'

The truth is that, actually, I like SOB holsters - I really do! In all probability, I'd be one of the very last people to attempt to stop you or anybody else from carrying in your favorite SOB position. The only proviso is that YOU have to be wearing it there instead of me. 'Why' you may ask? Well ... If I need to take control of a bad situation, quickly, you're going to be my first target. If I need to get to someone else's gun quickly, once again, you're on the list of first targets!

(Don't doubt it! I assure you there are plenty of experienced people, out there, who would take your pistol AND break your back, all, in the same straightforward move.) :eek:

If you sit down while armed this way, you're at a disadvantage. If you bend over, forget about not patterning by bending with the same side knee because it won't work. If you have to reach for something, forget about reaching with the opposite arm because that won't work, either. If an, ‘old friend’ smiles as he walks up to you and greets you with a hug, then, he’s also going to be able to instantly disarm you.

You're at risk whenever you expose your back to an audience; so spots like: lunch counters, walkup windows, front rows, aisle seats, and front of the line are, all, high risk locations; and, forget about walking upstairs in front of people – That’s definitely out! You CANNOT prevent a quick grab by pressing your elbow into your side or blading away from the danger. You've got to throw your elbow out from your body, sharply twist your wrist, and lean slightly forward - often into the threat - in order to bring the weapon into action.

If you should accidentally fall, backwards, onto an SOB piece, you might very well regret the decision to carry that way for the rest of your life. What is more, very few other gunmen are going to want to be on the line with you, once they realize you're holstering behind your back.

May I stop, now; or do you need to look above, again, in order to check on what I carry at 4:00 o'clock all day long? Do you think there are no chairs with arms that I never have to deal with? The statement; 'At least I'm armed!' is no different than; 'Well, I almost made it!' or; 'I had my gun on me when the whole thing began!'

Don't, also, carry OWB at 3:00 o'clock; that's strictly for uniformed police; or else, it's a firing line carry. Buy your gun belts 2" oversized with 7 rather than 5 holes; and get yourself a comfortable IWB/ITB holster. Tuck the butt of the pistol into your kidney area and get used to carrying this way.

I always order my holsters with a 15 degree forward cant, and 1 3/4" belt loops. My gun belts are 1 1/2" wide. This way I can easily adjust the cant on the holster or slide the weapon, either, forward or backward in order to accommodate wherever I'm sitting.

By the way, they're not called, 'mouse guns' for no good reason. Now, does this do it for ya? (And don't make me sorry I answered your question - OK!)

;)
 
I am in an office enviorement where the idea of carry has not even been entertained because the occurance of it is so rare and the area so NY Leftist Liberal that nobody expects it. While not against company policy and not illegal if it were learned it would result in a policy and lots of problems...

For that reason I use a couple methods.

1. K&D IWB tuckable Dakota Defender with a 5" 1911 10mm, spare mag in pocket.
2. Firestar M43 9mm in a Blade Tech tuckable UCH. Spare mag in pocket.
3. S&W Model 60 with two Bianchi Speed Strips in a SmartCarry

Being in NY there is incentive to not use a double stack since only pre-ban hicap mags are legal here. Even then though a double stack is too large to be comfortable in my hand and is just too big for me to easily conceal with a tuckable. Both the tuckables work fine, the leather K&D being more comfortable while the Kydex Blade Tech smaller and I find no problem driving with the smartcarry and a Model 60.

If using the smartcarry with a Glock please use the little trigger block that Clipdraw has out for it. You do not want a ND in your shorts!

When concealing with a tuckable blouse your shirt slightly so it helps conceal the clips. You can also jury rig a cell phone holder to cover a clip. I had an old holder super glued to the UCH clip to completely conceal it.

Get a good belt. I have a Don Hume black trouser belt 1 1/4" wide that is great and was only around $40. You will know the difference between this an a normal belt as soon as you feel the leather. This sucker is thick and firm. Black should be the color of choice.

When possible wear shirts with prints, patterns or stripes. Also go for colors, it is easy enough to wear blue dress shirts as well as other colors in an office enviorement. Save the white shirt and tie for when you are also going to wear a jacket that can help conceal any sign of a dark gun under a white shirt. Get your shirts a little larger, no sloppy though, in order to conceal the bulge. Darker slacks are better but you can get away whith Khakis if you pick the shirt properly and use a black belt.

Never SOB. Aside from the pain of a fall and in sitting there is a major concealment problem... you never know if you are flashing or printing, but everyone in your rear arc does know! Don't do it.

Posture is key. Learn to stand so people will not spot you printing. Learn to position yourself so people will not bump into your right side. Always have a notepad or something with you to hold on your "gun side" to help camoflague a possible print. Do not bend to pick up but kneel.
 
And, whenever someone attempts to place their arms around you - like when the boss wants to give you an, 'atta boy' - be sure to place your arms out, too. UNDERNEATH the arms of the person who's about to hug you. ;)
 
...P32 in the front pocket

+1

I have an sp101 too, which I carry OWB under a loose shirt sometimes(like on my way to the range), but frankly prefer the keltec for everyday carry, weight is a big issue.
 
Glock 19 appendix at about 1-1:30 in a FIST cantable clip hybrid (ultra thin kydex on the inside and leather laminated on the out side)
 
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